Human trials of the vaccine developed by the University's Jenner Institute began last week, with hundreds of people volunteering to be part of the study which received £20m in government funding.

Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, described the partnership with AstraZeneca as a "major force in the struggle against pandemics for many years to come".

He added: "It will also ensure that, should the vaccine being developed by Oxford University's Jenner Institute work, it will be available as early as possible, helping to protect thousands of lives from this disease."